Well-Baby Nursery

ColumbiaDoctors staff the Well-Baby Nursery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital. A group of highly trained general pediatricians are dedicated to providing family-centered care for newborns in the hours and days immediately after birth. With specialized expertise in neonatal physiology and pathology, the team attends to all the medical needs of stable newborns who are at least 35 weeks of gestation, from admission to discharge.

We are experienced in managing common newborn problems such as hypoglycemia, hyperbilirubinemia, excessive weight loss, and those with breastfeeding challenges. Up-to-date technologies and state-of-the-art medical care are utilized for our youngest patients. Transcutaneous bilirubin machines are used to noninvasively screen bilirubin levels. Newborns have pulse oximetry testing prior to discharge to screen for congenital heart defects. Pediatricians perform circumcisions humanely using local nerve block for pain control.

Additionally, the nursery pediatricians have experience with a multitude of complex newborn issues including congenital heart defects, genetic abnormalities, and limb anomalies to name a few. Caring for thousands of well babies every year allows our providers the experience to detect rare illnesses early on, and our collaboration with pediatric medical and surgical colleagues facilitates consultation with expert pediatric subspecialists. The Well Baby Nursery service works seamlessly with our outstanding NICU teams, who are available any time an infant’s treatment needs to be escalated.

In addition to providing care to the newborn baby, our doctors provide parenting education and support and ensure that families are prepared to confidently leave the hospital and begin life at home with their new baby.